When you think of Australia, you think of Uluru.

Until you’ve travelled to the Red Centre and seen it in person, you won’t fully grasp the magnificence and cultural significance of this place. It’s an unmissable experience, whether you’ve grown up in Australia or you’re coming from afar.

Best of all, your journey to Uluru is the chance to enjoy a feast of natural wonders and experiences on offer in the Northern Territory. It truly is a place where Australia’s wild beauty and rich culture collide.

Here are our top 15 tips for things to see and do near Uluru (Petermann, NT).

AROUND ULURU

Uluru

_{Video Credit: Tourism Australia}

When you stay at Discovery Resorts - Kings Canyon, Uluru is a three-and-a-half-hour drive away via the Lasseter Highway and Luritja Road. Once you arrive, there are many viewing platforms—Talinguṟu Nyakunytjaku is popular for its showstopping vantage point (especially at sunrise or sunset). You can also participate in tours and experiences, from treks to native dining. Join the ranger-guided Mala walk, explore the base on a segway tour, or take to the sky in a scenic helicopter flight.

Ride Around the Rock

_{Image Credit: Tourism NT/Kate Flowers}

Prefer pedal power? Hire a bike to ride around the national park, from waterholes to caves. You’ll find Outback Cycling in the car park outside the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, and the loop (including the Liru Path, which connects to the car park) is around 15 kilometres long.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre

_{Image Credit: Tourism NT/Salty Aura}

Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre is your go-to for daily presentations, led by staff members and Aṉangu guides, where you can learn about bush tucker, traditional men’s and women’s tools, and how the Aṉangu people have lived on this land for tens of thousands of years. There are two on-site galleries – Walkatjara Art and Maruku Arts Gallery (Punuku Ngura) – which display and sell authentic Aṉangu arts and crafts. Maruku Arts Gallery also runs workshops like their dot-painting experience, which is led by an Aṉangu artist (with an interpreter) who will tell you about the ancient symbols and storytelling through sand drawings, with the chance to paint your own canvas.

Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)

_{Image Credit: Tourism NT}

You can’t leave without stopping at Kata Tjuta (also known as The Olgas). This series of rock domes is located 20 minutes west of Uluru. Watch them glow and change colour with the sunrise and sunset, and embark on a hike. The shorter Walpa Gorge Walk travels past rare plants to a spearwood grove, while the Valley of the Winds Walk takes you through the domes and creek beds to stunning lookout points.

Camel Rides

_{Image Credit: Tourism NT/Plenty of Dust}

Uluru Camel Tours offer sunrise, daytime, and sunset experiences through the desert. Make a new animal friend, see Uluru and Kata Tjuta in the distance, and take photographs on the sand dunes.

Skydiving

_{Image Credit: Tourism NT/Sean Scott}

Why not pair two once-in-a-lifetime experiences? SkyDive Uluru operates tandem skydive and scenic parachute rides, dropping from 10,000 or 12,000 feet. It’s the most exhilarating view of Uluru.

Sounds of Silence

_{Video Credit: Tourism NT}

Combine dining with stargazing on the Sounds of Silence experience, a four-hour immersive tour which will leave you in awe. Starting with outback-style canapés and sparkling wine at sunset, you’ll be moved by the music of the didgeridoo. As you enjoy a three-course bush tucker dinner under the stars, a star talker will give you a guided tour of the night sky.

Field of Light

_{Video Credit: Tourism Australia}

Illuminate your getaway by attending the critically acclaimed Field of Light Uluru exhibition, created by artist Bruce Munro. This light installation is big enough to cover more than seven football fields, consisting of glass spheres that brighten up the night. Located at Ayers Rock Resort, you can book a general admission pass or combine your visit with drinks, canapés, and an exclusive viewing platform.

Mulgara Gallery

_{Image Credit: Tourism NT/Sean Scott}

The Mulgara Gallery, open daily, showcases original dot paintings, pottery, textiles, and metal and leather work. This free gallery is a wonderful spot to continue learning about Indigenous art after viewing the Aboriginal rock art around Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. The Gallery of Central Australia (GOCA) is also on-site, celebrating Central and Western Desert art.

Uluru Astro Tour

_{Image Credit: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia}

See the stars on an Uluru Astro Tour. You’ll be guided through the canvas of stars, planets, and deep sky celestial objects, using a computerised telescope to view those furthest away. As a souvenir, you’ll have a professional photograph taken beneath the stars and leave with a greater understanding of Indigenous astronomy.

AROUND KINGS CANYON

Ready to book your Uluru getaway? Great news—we know just where to stay!

Kings Canyon Rim Walk

_{Image Credit: Tourism NT}

In Watarrka National Park, magical views await from the very beginning of the Kings Canyon Rim Walk. Climb to the first outlook, travel along Priscilla’s Creek, see sandstone domes, descend into the lush Garden of Eden, and cross the sacred watering hole, before taking the stairs back up to the south side of the canyon. This remarkable walk takes three to four hours—depending on how many stops you make to soak up the scenery! (For a shorter, more gentle option, you only need about an hour to complete the Kings Creek hike.) When you stay at Discovery Resorts - Kings Canyon, it’s right on your doorstep—book a guided tour to complete this iconic hike with an expert guide.

Light-Towers at Discovery Resorts - Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon Helicopter Tours

_{Image Credit: Tourism NT/Mark Fitzpatrick}

See Kings Canyon like the birds do! Fly over Kings Canyon and Watarrka National Park on a helicopter tour. Experiences include the Canyon Dash, Kings Canyon and Carmichael Crag, and a half-hour-long flight over the Hidden Valley and George Gill Range.

Dining Under a Desert Moon

_{Image Credit: Tourism NT/Ray Reyes}

Under a Desert Moon is the ultimate way to ignite the senses. On selected evenings from May to October, start with canapés and sparkling wine on the Carmichael’s Restaurant front lawn. Then, you’ll be taken to a special, secret location under the stars for a five-course dinner by the fire. Seasonal, locally sourced produce brings out the flavours of the region, paired with world-class Australian wine and firelight beauty.

Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience

_{Image Credit: Tourism NT}

On the southeastern boundary of Watarrka National Park, Karrke run Aboriginal Cultural Experience tours—a great way to strengthen your cultural understanding as you travel the region. On this short, guided walk, learn about bush tucker, bush medicines, traditional wooden artefacts, and Aboriginal dot paintings.

Hey, while you’re travelling to the Red Centre, why not extend your trip to visit Alice Springs?

Discovery Parks - Alice Springs

At Discovery Parks - Alice Springs, you’ll find a superb range of accommodation and no shortage of things to do. Park features include swimming pools, a bouncing pillow, activity room, playground, kids’ facilities, and hire equipment. Plus, this place is packed with in-park activities, from starting the day with a pancake breakfast to Kidz Zone activities for little ones to create arts and crafts. From March to November, head to Sunset Hill to enjoy nibbles and watch the sun go down over the ranges, or join the Star Talk to peer through a telescope and hear resident ‘Star Man’ Andrew Fitzgerald guide you through the night sky. Your site, cabin, or safari tent is the ticket to all of these activities … and the rest of Alice!

Coming to Alice in April?